Kinney was in a pre-Elevators band, the Fugitives and also played an important role in getting Erickson’s book, Openers, financed and published. I’ve been told that Power Plant’s original release date was set for sometime in 1967 but for uknown reasons IA held out till the following year. That being said, there are still many fine moments on Power Plant. Evolution, the leadoff track, is a good psychedelic rocker with chimes, snotty punk vocals and some nice fuzz guitar.
The band plays hard and tight throughout and favor hard bluesy licks over fuzz as heard on songs like Starvation and I’ll Be Around. There are two undisputed classics on the album, This Way Please and My Time. The former is an excellent piece of acid drifter music while My Time may be the best song the Golden Dawn ever wrote. I hear bits of Gloria in My Time, the guitars are powerful with a rough edge and there’s a nice raga style solo making this an all-time, epic garage punk classic. Another highlight Tell Me Why stands out for backwards tapes and twisted Kinney vocals.
Power Plant is worth recommending on the strength of the above songs and it’s overall consistency. There have been numerous cd reissues though the Sunspot release comes in a nice mini lp sleeve with good sound quality. Kinney has made some late 60’s/early 70’s post Golden Dawn music which is reportedly very good but has never seen an official release.
1. Evolution - 3:28
2. The Way Please - 5:08
3. Starvation - 2:52
4. I'll Be Around - 3:00
5. Seeing Is Believing - 2:21
6. My Time (Jimmy Bird, Bill Hallmark, George Kinney) - 3:50
7. A Nice Surprise (Bill Hallmark, George Kinney, Bobby Rector) - 2:51
8. Every Day - 3:59
9. Tell Me Why - 2:07
10.Reaching Out To You (Bill Hallmark, George Kinney) - 2:37
All songs by George Kinney and Bobby Rector except where indicated.
The Golden Dawn
*George Kinney - Vocals, Guitar
*Tom Ramsey - Lead Guitar
*Jimmy Bird - Rhythm Guitar
*Bill Hallmark - Bass
*Bobby Rector - Drums
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Great Texas psych!!!! Master Piece Texas psych!!!!
ReplyDeleteFirst class US psyche album.Thanks.
ReplyDeleteExcellent album. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHello Marios
ReplyDeleteI wan't Thanks you for Belfast Gypsies(New Blog)I think the Command setting don't work good.I can't make a command with my Google Account.Please Check.
Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThis has been referred as "one of those criminally overlooked albums put out in the early years of psychedelic rock music."
I will check that.
I don't know this band.The comments
ReplyDeleteand reviews are excellent,so time
to check something new.Thanks for
sharing.
I had art classes with Bobby back at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State) in the mid-70's. He saw me looking at one of my mailings from a record seller in class. When I told him I collected records he asked me if I had ever heard of Golden Dawn/Power Plant. That started him telling me the story of their group and album.
ReplyDeleteI had heard of the album in conjunction with the Elevators, etc. and the label. He said they wouldn't have even had a copy per band member if one of them hadn't taken a handful while walking out of Lelan Rogers' office one day and sticking them under his shirt. They sure didn't leave with any money he said.
Sorry to read he passed away.